34 
RURAL HOURS. 
winter among our hills, as we have never yet observed them in 
cold weather. It is not a very common bird here, but may pos- 
sibly be found in the woods by those who look for it through the 
year. We were amused by watching our little visitor this morn- 
ing ; he never touched the spray, always alighting on the trunk, 
or on a principal limb, running nimbly up some distance, and 
then flying off to another in ceaseless movement, without a mo- 
ment's intermission. This bird has other peculiar habits. He 
sleeps with his head downwards, and he is said to have one qual- 
ity rare among his race ; he is a curious little rogue, and seems 
desirous of observing your own odd ways, Avhile you are watch- 
ing his ; then, he is a remarkably good husband, taking a vast 
deal of pains to feed and amuse his wife, and hstening to all her 
remarks and observations in the most meritorious manner. For 
several days we have observed this nut-hatch running over the 
same trees, probably in search of some particular insect^ or eggs, 
just now in season for them. 
Sunday, 9th. — Six o'clock, P. M. — The lake has been opening 
all day. The ice began to break up early in the morning ; be- 
tween the time of going to church and returning, we found great 
changes ; and now, so far as the eye can reach, the blue waters 
are once more quite free. The day has been cool ; wind from 
the north-west. 
Monday, 10th. — Lovely weather; air warm and soft. The 
open lake very beautiful. A decided green tinge rising upon 
the earth; the wheat-fields are always the first to show the 
pleasant change as they revive after the severe winter frosts ; 
then the grass begins to color in the orchards, about the roots of 
the apple-trees, and patches brighten in sunny sheltered spots, 
